New England Distribution

Non-native: introduced
(intentionally or
unintentionally); has become naturalized.

County documented: documented
to exist in the county by
evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers
those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).

State documented: never been
documented from the
county, but known from the state. May be present. Or,
may be restricted to a small area or a habitat (alpine,
marsh, etc.), so unlikely found in some
counties.

Note: when native and non-native
populations both exist in a county, only native status
is shown on the map.

North America Distribution

Facts About

Perfoliate bellwort becomes increasingly rare in northern New England, and is absent in Maine. The name refers to the way the stem seems to pierce through the leaf blade. Note that large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) also has perfoliate leaves. The Iroquois used an infusion of the roots as a cough medicine as well as for washing sore eyes.

Habitat

Forests

Characteristics

Habitat

terrestrial

New England state

Connecticut

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

Leaf arrangement

alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem

Leaf blade shape

the leaf blade is oblong (rectangular but with rounded ends)

the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

Leaf blade length

40–125 mm

Flower petal color

yellow

Flower petal length

15–35 mm

Petal fusion

the perianth parts are separate

Inflorescence type

the inflorescence has only one flower on it

Ovary position

the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment

Fruit type (specific)

the fruit is a capsule (splits along two or more seams, apical teeth or pores when dry, to release two or more seeds)

Native to North America?

Sometimes Confused With

tepals smooth on the inner surface and leaf blades hairy on the lower surface (vs. U. perfoliata, with tepals warty with orange papillae on the inner surface and leaf blades lacking hairs on the lower surface).

Family

Genus

Need Help?

Information from Dichotomous Key of Flora Novae Angliae

2. Uvularia perfoliata
L. N

perfoliate bellwort.
CT, MA, NH,
RI,
VT; becoming rare in northern New England. Dry-mesic to mesic, deciduous forests and openings. A specimen stated to have been collected from Shapleigh, York County,
ME, is likely the result of mix-up (see Fernald 1950a for discussion).